Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 3,535 as rebuilding begins
Authorities in Venezuela shift focus to reconstruction as the death toll from a rare earthquake doublet rises. Over 50,000 people are estimated to be unaccounted for.
Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 3,535 as rebuilding begins
The official death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck north-central Venezuela on June 24 has climbed to 3,535, according to the Ministry of Communication. Nearly two weeks after the disaster, authorities are shifting their focus from rescue operations toward debris removal and the restoration of critical infrastructure.
The disaster involved an unusual earthquake doublet
, where a 7.2-magnitude quake triggered a neighboring fault to unleash a larger 7.5-magnitude earthquake only 39 seconds later. This sequence was followed by 1,048 aftershocks.
The human cost of the event continues to grow. Along with the fatalities, 16,740 people have been injured. While the number of homeless individuals has risen to 17,854, an increase of more than 2,000 from previous government reports. Hospitals and emergency clinics have treated 25,016 patients.
Despite these figures, a significant void in information remains. The International Organization for Migration has estimated that roughly 50,000 people are still unaccounted for. Many may be trapped under collapsed buildings or separated from family members due to the destruction of residential neighborhoods and widespread disruptions in communications. Volunteer-run online registries are currently compiling tens of thousands of reports from families seeking missing relatives.
Physical destruction is concentrated in the affected region, including the coastal state of La Guaira. Authorities have confirmed that 190 buildings were destroyed and 856 others were damaged. This damage includes several hospitals, while some roads and bridges remain completely impassable, which has complicated the delivery of relief.
A preliminary assessment for the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction estimates the direct physical damage to buildings and infrastructure at approximately $37 billion. This is broken down into $24 billion in losses to buildings and $13 billion in damage to infrastructure, with energy and telecommunications systems among the hardest hit. Researchers noted this figure does not include business interruptions, indirect economic losses, or the eventual costs of reconstruction.
The response has seen an unusual level of cooperation between Caracas and Washington. The United States has deployed hundreds of search-and-rescue specialists, including teams from Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami, along with humanitarian experts. Recent high-level visits included Executive Secretary of State Lisa Kenna and Caleb Orr, the State Department’s deputy assistant secretary for economic, energy and business affairs, who conducted aerial surveys of the damage via a U.S. Department of Defense military aircraft.
The mobilization effort is one of the largest in recent national history. The interim government reported the following personnel are participating in the response:
| Personnel Type | Number of Personnel |
|---|---|
| Venezuelan military, police, and emergency personnel | 29,567 |
| Registered volunteers | 27,930 |
| Foreign rescue specialists | 4,338 |
Government assistance has reached nearly 86,800 families, and authorities have distributed 669,000 liters of water and more than 9,585 metric tons of food. To accommodate the displaced, the number of temporary camps has increased from 59 to 79. However, aid agencies warn that medical care, sanitation, psychological support, and clean drinking water still lag behind the actual demand.
The response has not been without criticism. During a speech commemorating Venezuela's 215th independence day, interim President Delcy Rodríguez defended the government's actions against claims that the response was inadequate and delayed. Rodríguez stated she deployed security forces immediately and created a new military unit to handle disasters and emergencies.
As the focus turns to recovery, the Venezuelan Guild of Engineers has started emergency training to increase the number of specialists available for structural evaluations of damaged homes and apartments. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez announced an initial $200 million reconstruction fund and is currently seeking additional international financial resources, though experts suggest the total cost of recovery will be significantly higher.
